Mentor-Magnificat girls soccer regional semifinal capsule

Oct. 30—Mentor vs. Magnificat

What: Division I regional semifinal

When: 7 p.m., Oct. 31

Where: Akron SVSM, 15 North Maple Street

Records: Mentor 14-5-1, Magnificat 10-6-3

What’s next: The winner advances to a regional final at noon Nov. 4 against Solon or Walsh Jesuit at Nordonia.

What to look for: Mentor enters the sweet 16 as the only remaining girls team from the coverage area. After a close loss to Solon on September 23rd, the team has since won seven consecutive matches to reach the regional stage. This streak includes victories over Twinsburg and Green, avenging previous defeats. With a strong defensive lineup and talented goalkeeper, Jill Medvecky, Mentor has only conceded 11 goals and kept 12 clean sheets this season. The team’s attack is led by Makenzie Stuckert, who excels in quick touches and creating opportunities. Even though Magnificat’s record might not be impressive, they have defeated top teams like Medina and have a balanced scoring lineup. Mentor’s key to success will be their midfield ballwinning, limiting Magnificat’s top scorer, Lexi Hradek, and capitalizing on set pieces and counterattacks. Although it won’t be easy, Mentor has the potential to win this match and advance to the next round.